DPW workers give the tree a fresh cut before installation.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City workers installed the two Christmas Trees on Main Street Monday morning preparing the downtown for the holidays.
"Everyone is beeping at us; we have the Christmas music going," Wire and Alarm Inspector Mitchell Meranti said. "This just gets everyone in the holiday spirit. It is a lot of work but at the end of the day when we do the tree lighting the kids love it."
The first tree was transported from Clarksburg to the City Hall end of Main Street. It was donated by the estate of Therese and Bert "Frenchie" Lavoie.
Meranti said the tree is about 25 feet tall and is a Blue Spruce. He said it is a little smaller than past trees.
"It is smaller by a couple of feet and as you know, it is getting tougher and tougher to find them," he said. "It is a great-looking tree, so you don't mind it being a little smaller."
The crew lifted the tree vertically before rotating it around. DPW members shouted out which side was the best looking as the tree slowly spun.
"It is the exact same as setting up a tree at home," Meranti said. "You spin it around until you find the best spot."
The second tree was installed near the monument on the other end of Main Street.
It is closer to 30 feet tall and is also a Blue Spruce. It was donated by Brayton and Beverly Whitney from the Mowhawk Trail.
"We will set this up after we get the cables down and ratchet it down," Meranti said. "We have a good system and have it down pretty good."
After the trees are up, Meranti strings the lights.
"It is a monotonous job, and I will do it over a week," he said. "They will give me a crew of guys and we will make it happen."
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North Adams School Panel Recommends $20M Budget That Cuts 26 Jobs
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The School Committee will be presented next week with a $20 million spending plan for fiscal 2025 that includes closing Greylock School and a reduction of 26 full-time positions.
The Finance and Facilities committee is recommending the budget of $20,357,096, up $302,744 or 1.51 percent over this year. This is funded by $16,418,826 in state Chapter 70 education funds, local funding of $3,938,270 (up $100,000 over this year) and a drawdown of school funds of $575,237.
The budget is up overall because of rising contractural costs, inflation and a hike in the cost of out-of-district tuition.
Superintendent Barbara Malkas told the committee on Monday that assignment letters were being sent out the next day to personnel per agreement with the union of a May 1 deadline.
Twenty of the reductions represent members teacher's bargaining unit including a dean of students, an art teacher, music teacher, physical education teacher, school adjustment counselor and a librarian at Drury High School (who will move to teaching and be replaced by a library paraprofessional); also affected are two clerical paraprofessionals, two custodians, one maintenance, and a school nurse. The principal is being shifted to Drury's Grades 7 and 8 "on assignment" to complete her contract.
"Losing 26 positions from the budget, we still have to have some funds from our school choice revolving account in order to close the budget for FY 25," said Malkas.
A couple of these positions are already vacant and it is not clear how many, if any, retirements would affect the number of job losses. Malkas said there have been "rumors" of retirements but staff have been reluctant to discuss firm plans with administration.
The School Committee will be presented next week with a $20 million spending plan for fiscal 2025 that includes closing Greylock School and a reduction of 26 full-time positions.
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